By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
December 3, 2012-Staten Island was one of the most devastated areas of New York State during Hurricane Sandy. The Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL) of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is now trying to rebuild while helping others.
SIYSL is creating a list of the many league families most affected by the hurricane. You can donate money to these families through the SIYSL’s website, http://siysl.vicid.net/index.php
Over 100 pairs of shin guards, a dozen pairs of socks, several pairs of cleats, gift cards and bags have already been donated to SIYSL as well.
Breakaway, a training group that works with SIYSL clubs, hosted a charity soccer tournament on Veteran’s Day which raised $5,000 for the Staten Island families most affected, including the Dresch family, which lost father George and 13-year-old daughter Angela. Clubs that participated were Notre Dame Academy, Richmondtown, St. John Newman, Silver Lake and Staten Island United.
SIYSL club Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) is hosting an impromptu tournament, OLHC’s Playing for Angels, this Saturday, December 8. The tourney will be played at Angela Dresch’s school, IS34, at the intersection of Academy and Yetman Avenues. Under-5 to Under-10 teams will be playing indoors in the Third Floor Gyms while Under-11 to Under-14 play outdoors. All proceeds benefit Dresch Family Funds and OLHC Hurricane Relief. Play is 6v6 and the team entry fee is $100.
While SIYSL continues to help others, there are real concerns for the 2013 Spring Season as 18 fields at Miller Field in New Dorp were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. The SIYSL has reached out to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation so that all their players will have a place to play next spring.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.